Weekly Muse: Staying Chic Through the Heat, Women's Edition

Brace yourselves. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) later this week. That's slightly hotter than the recommended climate for practicing bikram yoga, a form of exercise intended to promote profuse sweating. Most of us have never signed up for that kind of torture, yet we'll be forced to endure it anyway.

Meanwhile, the fashion magazines and websites are blowing up with fall/winter items. When the air's thick with pollution and many establishments still don't provide working A/C, we can't even contemplate throwing on a maxi dress, much less chunky knits and shearling jackets.

So the challenge is looking chic, even when the lightest layering piece can make us feel dangerously faint. The key is to stick to loose fits and breathable materials (cotton, rayon, linen and silk) that wick moisture away from the skin rather than letting it gather. With that in mind, here's our proposed outfit for ladies this week.

1. Dolce Vita Preston Tee, RMB 597 (www.farfetch.com) - This cotton cropped tee, with a scoop neck and cutoff sleeves, will give your skin ample room to breathe. I love the black and gold navajo-inspired graphic on the front, which injects some tribal flair into the outfit.

2. Satin Charmeuse Roller Shorts, RMB 150-200 (American Apparel) - I own a pair myself; these days, I can't imagine living without them. Perfectly light and flowy, I grab them any time the weather becomes intolerable. The sheen of the satin also adds texture to those standard cotton-and-denim getups.

3. Long Metal Spike Earrings, RMB 61 (www.asos.com) - Cool, understated and cheap. Plus they connote that sense of toughness you need to overcome this scorching weather.

4. SAGE Slingback Clogs, RMB 630 (www.topshop.com) - If you haven't caught onto this explosive trend yet, you still have a chance before the summer and fall seasons are over. Our selected studded version matches the quirky rocker vibe present in the rest of the ensemble.

5. WGACA Vintage Stitched Hippie Bag, RMB 1,207 (www.shopbop.com) - You cannot waste your energy lugging around a giant bag when it gets this hot. Just imagine digging around looking for chapstick, change or your subway card ... ugh. This aged-looking bag is conveniently small and comes with a long strap that allows you to hold your things further away from your body - remember, the less contact, the better.

Boys, you're up next week. Stay tuned!

American Apparel. 1) Daily 10am-9.30pm. B1/F, China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6505 5540) 朝 阳区建国门外大街国贸商城地下1层, 2) Daily 11am-10pm. Room C101, First Floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District (5208 6022) 朝阳区 三里屯北街81号那里花园1层C101

All listed websites ship to China.